Obtaining “Smuggler’s” true identity and vintage was never going to be easy, as locating her origins and builder became fraught with difficulty.  Although a few aspects of her history remain incomplete the majority is now established. This was made more difficult as many records were destroyed in a fire at the Adrian Works of J W Brooke & Co., Lowestoft in 1918. These records could well have improved the historic accuracy of “Smuggler’s” past.

Smuggler’s early chronology has since been ratified by the late Peter Hansford… Brooke Archivist and Historian

During the period 1913 to 1928, Brooke’s constructed One Hundred and Fifteen motor boats to various Admiralty Contracts, the bulk being for the Royal Navy, Royal Naval Air Service and from 1918, a number for the Royal Air Force. The contracts placed on Brooke’s in this period seem to have been for general service motor boats of various lengths, the bulk being delivered to larger shipbuilders, constructing fighting ships or direct to ships already in commission. With the growth of Air Operations, increasing numbers were allocated to Royal Navy Air Stations. Whilst they were not designed as “Seaplane Tenders” they represent the Navy making best use of equipment available and were no doubt given an establishment for their new duties. These craft often patrolled known air routes and were powered with a standard Brooke marine motor rated at 75 horse-power. From 1928 onwards, a larger Brooke 40-F/28 (103 horse power) motor came into being and was used as the ‘motor of choice’. 

The boats ranged in length from 20ft to 52ft, with 35ft being the most Prominent. Power was by Brooke Petrol or Paraffin engines, or Admiralty supplied Steam Engines. However, the most used seems to have been the Brooke Six Cylinder 65F/10 unit. 

Many Brooke Tenders built to this early specification share similar constructional features. The only departure were boats used for racing, which were mostly constructed using 1/2” carvel planking, whilst their ‘working-boat cousins’ were built with a slightly heavier 3/4” teak planking.

Both craft types employ closely pitched frames to provide a ‘broaching characteristic’, deemed essential when coming alongside larger flotilla vessels, esp. in heavy sea-state conditions.

A better understanding of operations for early Service Craft of this type is detailed in Canimpex article publication… “The History of RAF Marine Craft, 1918-1939”, Volume 1 - ISBN 0-9510266-2-3 by Geoffrey D Pilborough in paperback. 

During extensive archive searches by Peter Hansford (also Jack Mitchley), only one record of a 32 ft. boat was ever found during this period; being boat-26 on the index as supplied by Jack Mitchley of
the Port Research Society.

Constructed at the Harbour Road, Oulton Broad Boatyard of J.W. Brooke & Co, 1913, boat-26 is recorded as being fitted with a Brooke Four-Cylinder, 45 h.p. marine motor, for use on the Torpedo Range at Loch-long, Strathclyde, Scotland.

The 32ft boat was built to Admiralty Contract Specification CP 4443/12, placed with J.W. Brooke & Co. on 13th January, 1912. The period between contract-placement and delivery was just ten weeks, i.e. of insufficient time to build boat-26 from scratch. It is therefore likely that her small cabin, with three windows to each side, should provide adequate ‘squall protection’ on the Loch.

B-26’s Engine-beds were originally sized at 8’ 6” to accommodate the Brooke 65-F/10 / Six-cylinder marine motor. It therefore came as no surprise that the Four-Cylinder Brooke 45 h.p. marine motor was preferred for use on the Loch-long Torpedo range.

Note; - Only one 32’ lumber order was ever placed by Brooke’s - it is also known she was of an earlier build than thought. J.W. Brooke & Co. only built one 32’ boat as originally placed in 1910. This is substantiated by the Port of Lowestoft Research Society (P.L.R.S.) registered entry for B26, where she is seen (below) as being delivered to Loch-Long with a 45 h.p. unit (instead of the larger 65-F/10-75 h.p.) power unit. 

Smuggler’s keel was originally laid down in 1910, she is today 111 years old!

Jack Mitchley, who was chairman of the Port of Lowestoft Research Society sadly died on the 21st June 1993, aged 79. Peter Hansford often consulted Jack on various matters concerning the Brooke Company and was always most patient and helpful. It is due to Jack and his fellow members of the P.L.R.S. that the long and painstaking tasks of documenting Brooke Constructions & Records, that were lost in the fire of 1918 could be (and were), subsequently re-created. I am therefore indebted to Jack for supplying and sharing his complete set of records.

On completion Brooke-boat “Smuggler" was allocated P.L.R.S Service No. B26 (Admiralty Ref. number ML117), and was duly delivered to the R.N. Torpedo Range at Loch Long, Strathclyde in Scotland. Her port lights and side strakes were a later addition. ML117 therefore, appears to have been on the Range until 1935-36, when she was sold locally by the Admiralty as “Surplus”.  It was not until sometime later that Leslie Pratt of Fordhouses would buy “Smuggler”.

Following her seizure for running goods, her small Brooke 45-D/24 / 45 h.p. four-cylinder Marine Motor was likely removed by Customs for use in the war effort; only to be later replaced by a Henry Meadows 28 h.p “Kittiwake” Marine Motor from Fallings park, Wolverhampton. At / about this time (whilst owned by Leslie Pratt or Jim Dumbell), a decision was made to install the larger cabin to facilitate Canal / River Cruising. Thereafter, boat 26 / ML 117 became affectionately known as ‘Smuggler’.

Points of Notoriety by Peter Hansford …
“It is compelling that the size of Smuggler’s engine beds at 8’ 8” to the Cutlass bearing, is also the overall length of Smuggler’s 65-F/10 marine motor incl. reverse gear.” 

The established Chronology below remains incomplete, but is an accurate account of the movements of B26 / ML117 “Smuggler”, beyond of course those relating to her illicit activities!   The date of when ML117 was impounded is yet to be determined. 

Chronology of Brooke Boat 26 / 117

1910 - Lumber order placed by J.W. Brooke & Co. for a 32’ boat.
1912 - Admiralty contract CP4443/12 placed on Dec. 1912 for 32’ boat.
1913 - Order completed on 24th April 1913. PLRS Serial No. 26 (pennant No. 117) despatched to the Loch-long Arrochar Torpedo Establishment in Strathclyde, Scotland.
1935-36 - Brooke boat 26, pennant No. 117 was sold “Surplus’” by the Admiralty in Loch-long area.
1936-45 - Alleged to have been impounded by Customs & Excise for running contraband.
1945-57 - Further unknown activities.
1957-64 - Mr Leslie Pratt of Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, purchases “Smuggler” from the local Customs & Excise (date confirmed by Patricia Dumbell).
1964 - Mr James Dumbell purchases “Smuggler”, date to be confirmed.
1975 - Mr. K. Brown (senior) purchases “Smuggler”, which was then passed down to Dr. Kenneth and Roselyn Brown.
1984 - Mr James P Clements purchases “Smuggler” on 17/02/84, which was then passed down to his son, Mr Robert J Clements.
1991 - Engine beds confirmed to match the Brooke 65-F/10 marine motor (John Brooke conversant).
1992 - Brooke Archivist Peter Hansford confirms only one record of a Brooke 32’ boat in above period S/N B26 (listed on Port of Lowestoft Research Society Index supplied by Jack Mitchley).
1992 - Operation Adrian; Remaining Brooke Hundred Marine Motor recovered from Ireland, Courtesy of John Brooke, Brian Tennant & R J Clements.
1997 - Brooke Hundred 40/F-28/30  Marine Motor as refurbished for “Smuggler” by John Brooke .
2006 - Brooke boat ML117 visit to Buckler’s Hard for the ‘Hamble Royal Air Force Yacht Club’ 

Note: -The ‘Coastal Motor Boat Heritage Trust’ bussed over Two Hundred WW2 Veterans to visit Brooke B 26 / ML 117 “Smuggler” at Buckler’s Hard over a three-week period. Present were; Lt. Cdr. Eric Archer (retired W.W.2 Skipper of Motor Gun Boat 81) - also many other Veterans in attendance!